Boys tennis: CCD adds depth to top-flight roster

Cincinnati Country Day senior Patrick Wildman returns as a two-time state runner up in singles for the Indians.
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INDIAN HILL – Cincinnati Country Day finished 1-2 in the Division II state singles tournament last season, as then-sophomore Asher Hirsch beat then-junior Patrick Wildman for the Ohio title.

“They’re not looking at their trophy case,” said head coach Matt Detkas. “They’re out there working hard to keep getting better.”

Both return for an Indians team that may have gotten even better than last year’s squad. In fact, despite their lofty finishes last year, there’s no guarantee Hirsch and Wildman will end the season as the top two players.

An influx of talented freshmen has upped the ante for everyone on the team. Among the newcomers is J.J. Wolf - younger brother of Danielle Wolf, who was third in the state singles tournament for the CCD girls in the fall - with a No. 3 national age-group ranking. Kevin Yu is one of the top 15 age-group players in the state. And Shaheel Migra rounds out the freshman trio.

Juniors Keith Tholke and Will Cohen return and will likely keep their second doubles positions.

“Our returning players are excellent,” Detkas said. “It’s nice to have the top of the lineup and the second singles set so we can mix in the new guys and see where they fit. That’s our biggest challenge early on, just establishing who will play where. Believe me, I know it’s a good problem to have.”

Detkas said expectations are rightfully high this season.

“A team title (in the coaches association state tournament) is our main goal,” he said. “We’ve never won it as a team. We were third last year and the year before. We’re really shooting for multiple titles. Singles, doubles, team. We’re looking at some of the great teams in Cincinnati history and trying to match them.

“But the thing we talk about every day, more than anything else, is just get better every day. If you focus too much on outcome goals you’ll lose your mind.”

CCD opens the season in the road April 1 at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy before hosting Seven Hills April 3. The Indians stay in the Miami Valley Conference with an April 8 home match against Summit Country Day before heading south to the Louisville St. Xavier Jamboree April 11 and 12.